Switch and operating mechanism



Nov. 15, 1932. P. R. FORMAN 1,837,628

SWITCH AND OPERATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l V -w v g 4/ 5 f'ch O r 8 02 6 40 m-mm,

\ Ca l INVENTOR Nov. 15, 1932. P. R. FORMAN 1,887,628

SWITCH AND OPERATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 .fifl. I 5

INVENTOR 5 6 Paris R Farman ATTO NEYSI.

P. R. FORMAN Nov. 15, 1932.

SWITCH AND OPERATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR I Harman BY h s ATTORNEYS, Q l 9,

Nov. 15, 1932. P. R. FORMAN 1,887,628

SWITCH AND OPERATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 5 R- For'mavn BY d ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITE!) ti'lATliS PATENT OFFECE PARIS R. FORMAN, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA SWITCH AND OPERATING MECHANISM Original application filed October 22, 1.930, Serial No.

498,459. Divided and this application filed May 8,

1931. Serial No. 535,975.

This invention relates in general to improvements in switch structure and operating means therefor.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a switch adapted for use ontransportation vehicles, such, for example, as subway cars for use with door locking and controlling apparatus.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of two switch arms each operable independently in one direction and both operable simultaneously in the opposite direction.

A still. further object of this invention is the provision of an operating mechanism 'for a switch of this type.

These and many other obj acts are successfully secured by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construc.tion arrangement and relative location of parts. all as will be set forth in greater detail her after.

This application is a dlWSlOl". of my copending; application Serial No. 490.459, filed October 22, 1930. for door control system.

Retcrrincto the drawings;

Figure 1 is an elevational View of the structure of this invention;

2 is a top plan view thereof showing n with the car wall. and including the switch and operating structure:

3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ssembly of El with some parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional. view taken on the line 4l;--fl of Fig. 3:

Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view taken on a plane at ight analcs to the section of Fig. 3 and substantially in the plane of section line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; with some parts omitted;

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the rod which interconnect-s the controlling apparatus with the switches operated thereby;

9 is a side elevational view of the switch;

Fig. 10 is a front el-evational view of this switch.

The switch disclosed herein is employed for controlling the mechanism for locking the doors of a vehicle and the control circuits for the motive device for operating the doors. In such systems as disclosed in my copending application, is desirable to provide a controlling mechanism for this switch so that it is only possible to unlock the doors before they are opened. This invention, therefore, includes control mechanism for the switch by which the doors may be unlocked by the operation of the proper switch before the motive devices for opening); the doors are energized by the operation of the other switch. The operating mechanism is also constructed so that both switches may be operatcd in the opposite direction for door closing: operation. so that the doors will close and when fully closed. lock automatically. In my copendingr application I have termed the apparatus of this invention a master door controller.

Although the principles of this invention are not limited to use on vehicles, the structure disclosed adapted for application to transportation vehicles. such as subway cars. There are four of these structures provided for each car; two are mounted on each end of each car. one on each side and on the eX- terior thereof. When the cars are coupled into trains the controllers on the adjacent ends of car are positioned near each other so that the guard will have easy access thereto for controlling the doors on each of the cars between which he stands.

Referring; to the drawings, the structure disclosed will be described in detail. As illustrated in the drawings the switch is shown in its association with the controlling mechanism and the car wall.

Master door controller The master door controllers and the switch operated thereby are clearly shown in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive. As shown in Fig. 2, the master door controller is mounted on the outside of the car wall, one at each end of each car on each side. These controllers are, in fact, mounted on the cars in exactly the same way that similar controllers are at present in extensive use on subway cars. By mounting them in this manner on the outside of the car, the guard may stand between the adjacent ends of two cars at the guards station and by operating the two adjacent controllers control the doors of the corresponding side of the cars in the unit under his control. The switches operated by the controllers are all the same and one of these is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The switches are mounted within the car in. alignment with the con trollers, as shown in Figure 3. It might be well to point out that these controllers are made in right-hand and left-hand forms so as to pro Jerly lit the sides of the car, but otherwise they are structurally the same. The controllers comprise a plate 1 which is secured to the outside of the car wall and sup ports a handle 2 to be grasped by the guard. Mounted below the handle is a casing 3 having a hinged cover 4 thereon which is mounted on a pivot pin 5 and held normally in closed position by a spring 6. The handle 2 has a bore therethrough in which is slidably mounted a rod 7. The upper end of this rod is secured to a cap or push button 8. The rod and cap are held in raised position by a spring 9, which position is the normal position of these parts as shown in Fig. 3. \Vithin casing 3 are thetriggers and 11 rotatably mounted on the transverse shafts 12 and 13. Trigger 10 has an upwardly projecting arm 14: and trigger 11 has an upwardly arm 15. These triggers also have lugs 16 and 17, respectively. There are two lugs 16, as is clear, in Figs. 5 and 6. The projecting arms '14 and 15 engage and operate slidable rods 18 and 19, respectively (see Fig. 5). The construction of these rods is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Rods 18 have a notch 18 on one face and a notch 18 at right angles thereto on another face. The projecting wing 1 1 engages notch 18 of rod 18. Rod 19 has a single notch 19 which is as long as the combined length of notches 18 and 18 Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the projections 16 on trigger 11 contact with the lower surface of rod 18 (see also Fig. 5). These projections prevent the movement of trigger 11 in either direction in the normal position of rod 18, which is the position shown in these figures. Likewise, projection 17 on trigger 10 contacts with the lower surface of rod 19 permitting its movement in one direction only, namely, to the. right (Fi The switch operated by the master door controller will now be described in connection with F 9 and 10. The switch comprises a frame 20 having a transverse shaft 21 mounted therein. Mounted on this shaft by means of collars 32 are two pairs of arms 22. These collars interlock each other by overlapping lugs formed, as shown by line 23. The collars are free to rotate on shaft 21. The switch is shown in these figures in normal position or door closed position with the switches open. Arms 22 support the pins 24., on which are pivotally mounted rods 25 extending through holes in the frame. These rods are encircled by compression springs 25 which abut against the frame. On the other side of each collar is an arm which supports a block of insulating material 26. Ful crumed on these blocks of insulating material are the switch blades A1 and A2. They are held in place by means of pins 2'? and are permitted to move against the reaction of spring 28. As clearly shown in Fig. 9, when pressure is applied to the outer end of switch blades A1 and A2 they'may move about their rear edges against the reaction of springs 28. Also mounted on the frame is a block of insulating material 29 which supports four .contactsDL2, D81, D82 and D03. Contacts D81 and D82 are permanently bridged by the connecting bar D83. The rods 18 and 19 are pivot-ally connected to the switches to operate them by means of the adjustable connecting members30 and 31 which engage the pins 2% (see Fig. 5). By reason of the interlocked relation of the collars 32, switch blade A1 is moved first, then switch is moved. simultaneously in the reverse direction because, as will be explained, the force for returning them bein applied tothe arms 22, which operates switch blade A1, also causes switch blade A2 to move that switch blade A1 because of the interlocking connection inclicated at 23.

When the parts are associated, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 for example, the switch is mounted within a casing 10 which may be set nto the end wall of the car. This (38.8111 is closed by a removable cover 41, by means of which access to the interior of casing 10 may be had.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the controlling apparatus is on the outside of the car wall, and the switch controlled thereby is within the car mounted on the interior wall in any suitable manner and in a protecting casing as described.

In the use of this device, cover 1 is opened against the reaction of spring 6 and the hand of the operator inserted within casing 3, where access is had to the triggers 10 and 11. l Vhcn the parts are in their normal position,

Both of these switch blades move ice as shown in Fig. 3, the two switches are open. At this time, trigger 11 cannot be operated because the lugs 16 thereon press up against the lower surface of rod 18 which, in its normal position, overlies the lugs 16. In other words, the notch 18 is not in alignment therewith. Hence, only trigger 10 can be operated and must be operated first. lVhen trigger 10 pulled in a counter-clockwi e direction 3) it causes rod 18 to move to the left or downwardly (Fig. By reason of the c nection of this red 18 to the arms 22 of switch .511, the switch arm Al is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3), swinging the pivot pin. or to the left. This compresses spring 25 until the pivotal connect-ion passes the center, at which time the spring expands and forces and holds the switch arm A1 against contacts DL2 and D81.

The bridging of these contacts by switch arm A1 completes circuits to the control mechanism for the locking devices, so that the locks are withdrawn to unlocking position. The operator then pulls tri ger 11 in a counter clockwise direction, which he can now do since notches 18 overlie these connections, leaving the trigger free for move ment. As the trigger is moved in the counter clockwise direction, rod. 19 is moved to the left (Fig. or downwardly (Fig. 5), cansing a simila operation of switch arm A2 to a position to bridge the contacts D82 and D03. This completes circuits to the control mechanism for the door operating motors to cause them to open the doors which, in the meantime, have become unlocked. As indicated in Fig. 10, switch arm A1 must be moved first because of the manner in which the collars 32 are formed, as indicated by the line 28. Thus, when switch A1 is moved to closing position, the notch on the collars separate l y reason of movement of the left-hand collar (Fig. When switch arm A2 is moved to closing position, the notches on the co rs come together. These switch arms remain in operated position by reason of the toggle connection and the action of spring When it is desired to close and lock the doors it is only necessary to press down on the button 8, com pressing springs 9 Fig. 3) and moving the vertically slidable rod 7 downwardly. Since the rods 18 and 19 remain in moved position the trigger 10 will be projecting to the leftin substantially horizontal position (Fig. 3). Thus, when rod 7 is moved down it es the top of trigger 10 rotating in clockwise direction. Trigger 11 ret rns to ver ca position as soon as it is free ..cause of the I of notch 19 in the rod 19., as clear in Fi a The return movement of 1% dra s back to the left 3) rod 18 because the notch 18 therein substantially the s me size as the wing 14. Return movement 18 pulls arms 22 back to a posit on to move the switch blade A1 away from its contacts.

Because of the innerlocked form of the collars 32 the return movement of the collar 32, carrying switch blade A1, carries with it the righthand collar 32 (Fig. 10) and all the connected parts. As before, springs 25 are compressed upon initial movement of the parts and then actto snap the parts to open position and hold them there, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

From the above description, it will be clear that the switch blades A1 and A2 are operated to closing position independently by the triggers, but are moved simultaneously to open position by means of the push button 8.

From the above description, it will be apparent that this invention resides in certain principles of construction and operation which may be embodied in other physical forms, and I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for purposes of illustration, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A control device of the type described, comprising a switch having two movable switch blades, separate means for operating said switch blades in one direction independently in a predetermined sequence only, and additional means for simultaneously operating both of said switch blades in the opposite direction.

2. In a controlling device as described, the combination comprising two movable switch blades, means connected thereto for operating said switch blades, means for preventing the operation of one of said switch blades until the other has been operated, and means for simultaneously and conjointly operating both of said switch blades in the reverse direction.

3. In a switch and operating structure, the combination comprising two pivotally supported switch arms, separate means for operating the switch arms in sequence in one direction, means for preventing operation in any other sequence and means for operating both switch arms simultaneously and conjointly in the opposite direction.

42. In a switch and operating structure of the type described, the combination comprising two pivotally supported switch arms, interlocking means forming part of the switch arms, means for operating the switch arms separately in sequence, and means for moving one of the switch arms in the opposite direction whereby the interlocking means simultaneously moves the other switch arm with it.

5. In. a switch and operating structure, the combination comprising two pivotally supported switch arms, two slidably mounted rods for operating the switch arms, means for imparting sliding movement to the rods to operate the switch arms in sequence, and

single means for operating both of the switch arms in the opposite direction simultaneously.

6. In a combined switch and operating structure, the combination comprising a switch including two pivotally supported switch arms, slidable members for operating the switch arms, trigger means for imparting sliding movement to said members, and

means for locking one of the trigger means to insure sequential operation of the switch arms.

7. A combined switch and operating structure, comprising a switch including a plurality of pivotally supported switch arms, means for operating the switch arms in sequence including locking means for preventing the operation of the switch arms in other than the predetermined sequence, and means for simultaneously moving the switch arms in the opposite direction.

8. In a combined switch and operating structure, the combination comprising two pivotally supported switch arms including interlocked collars, slidable members for operating the switch arms, trigger means for operatingthe slidable members, and interlocking means for preventing the operation of one of the trigger means until the other trigger means has been operated.

9. In a combined switch and operating structure, the combination comprising two pivotally supported switch arms including interlocked collars, slidable members for operating the switch arms, trigger means for operating the slidable members, interlocking means for prevening the operation of one of the trigger means until the other trigger means has been operated, and means for operating the switch arms in the opposite direction simultaneously.

10. In a combined switch and operating structure, the combination comprising two rotatably supported switch arms, means including operable triggers for operating the switch arms, means for preventing the operation of one of the switch arms by the trigger until the operation of the other switch arm by its trigger, and a manually operable member for simultaneously moving both of the switch arms in the opposite direction.

11. In a combined switch and operating structure, the combination comprising two rotatably supported switch. arms, means including operable triggers for operating the switch arms, means for preventing the operation of one of the switch arms by the trigger until the operation of the other switch arm by its trigger, and a movable member for engaging one of the triggers to operate both of the switches simultaneously in the opposite direction.

12. A combination as described comprising a pair of movable switch arms, operating members connected thereto, an operating trigger for each member, means for interlocking the triggers so that they may only be operated in a predetermined sequence, manually operable means for engaging one of the triggers in operated position to return it and the operating member and switch arm connected thereto, and means connecting the switch arms for causing them to simultaneously return.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 7th day of May A. D., 1931.

PARIS R. FORMAN. 

